FIFPro demands UEFA action over fans’ dressing room attack on player
AMSTERDAM: International players’ union FIFPro has urged European federation UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings against two clubs over an attack on a player in the dressing rooms at a Europa League tie writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Nikola Trujic, a 25-year-old Serb winger, was attacked immediately after playing for Vojvodina Novisad in an away tie against Slovakia’s MFK Ruzomberok on July 6.
Vojovdina’s 2-0 defeat meant they were knocked out of the preliminary qualifying tie 3-2 on aggregate.
A group identified as Serb supporters managed to force their way into the away dressing room before threatening and physically assaulting Trujic.
The incident has landed Trujic in a dispute with his own club since, for his own safety, he is now currently training alone and privately in Belgrade.
Trujic has said: “I do not know if I’m suspended or not but until the whole situation is over, I can not make a statement. Everything goes through the lawyers.”
However Vojvodina chairman Dragoslav Vukovic told local media that Trujic was not suspended and are threatening to sue him for breach of contract over his non-appearance back at the club.
Vukovic said: “Our impression from the lawyer is that he is trying to force us to let him go to another club without compensation and we cannot afford to do that.
“We have been told that criminal charges were filed against fans of Vojvodina and Ruzomberok so, if Trujic has reported this to the police, why does he now feel he is still prevented from coming to the training? We think that he is required to fulfil his professional obligations.”
FIFPro statement:
FIFPro has today made a formal request that UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings against two clubs, FK Vojvodina (Serbia) and MFK Ruzomberok (Slovakia), after FK Vojvodina player Nikola Trujic was attacked at a UEFA Europa League qualifying match.
Immediately after the July 6 match, in which FK Vojovdina was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League, a group of the Serbian club’s supporters was able to gain access to the away team’s changing room at MFK Ruzomberok’s stadium before intimidating and physically assaulting the player.
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